Costancio v. Apfel
Costancio v. Apfel
Opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 00-20279 Summary Calendar
DANIEL COSTANCIO,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
KENNETH S. APFEL, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,
Defendant-Appellee.
-------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. H-99-CV-1025 -------------------- December 1, 2000
Before DAVIS, JONES and DEMOSS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Daniel Costancio appeals the district court’s decision
affirming the determination by the Commissioner of Social
Security that Costancio is not disabled within the meaning of the
Social Security Act. Costancio argues that the administrative
law judge (ALJ) erred in relying solely on the opinion of
Dr. Steven Goldstein who is not a psychiatrist and who did not
examine Costancio. Costancio’s argument lacks merit as the ALJ
determined that Costancio was not disabled after considering all
* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 00-20279 -2-
of Costancio’s medical records, as well as the testimony of
Costancio, Dr. Goldstein, and Pamela Lewis, a vocational expert.
Costancio argues that the ALJ erred in rejecting his
subjective complaints. The ALJ’s determination that Costancio’s
subjective complaints were not credible is supported by the
medical evidence, which indicated normal neurological findings,
no clinical diagnosis of blackouts, the lack of medication for
muscle spasms, and Costancio’s own testimony concerning his daily
activities. It is within the province of the ALJ to make
credibility determinations concerning testimony at administrative
hearings. See Newton v. Apfel,
209 F.3d 448, 458(5th Cir.
2000); Greenspan v. Shalala,
38 F.3d 232, 237(5th Cir. 1994).
Costancio argues that the ALJ erred in determining that he
could perform certain light, unskilled jobs that exist in the
national economy. In view of the ALJ’s determination that
Costancio’s complaints of blackouts were not supported by the
medical evidence and the ALJ’s determination that Dr. Barry F.
Gritz’s global assessment of functioning (GAF) score of 39 was
inconsistent with Costancio’s daily activities, the ALJ did not
err in disregarding the vocational expert’s answer to the
hypothetical question concerning whether an individual with a
history of blackouts and a GAF score of 39 would be able to
perform any jobs in the national economy. The ALJ did not err in
determining that based on Costancio’s residual functional
capacity, he could perform certain light, unskilled jobs that
exist in the national economy. See Muse v. Sullivan,
925 F.2d 785, 789(5th Cir. 1991). No. 00-20279 -3-
AFFIRMED.
Reference
- Status
- Unpublished